Slashdot Mirror


Hayabusa Probe Arrives at Destination

david.given writes "The Japanese space probe Hayabusa has just arrived at its destination, the asteroid Itokawa, and is taking pictures. The largely autonomous ion-drive powered vehicle was launched in 2003 and was supposed to have arrived last year, but a solar flare damaged the solar panels causing a reduction in power. It will study the asteroid for two months before collecting a sample from the surface and departing for Earth, which it should reach in 2007. It's a pity that NASA's asteroid rover, which Hayabusa was going to drop off, got cancelled due to budgetry constraints..."

10 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. So when it gets there... by millennial · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will it use the magical firewheel of protection, or be followed by a hazy clone of itself that mimics its actions?
    /ryu hayabusa... ninja gaiden. ding.

    --
    I am scientifically inaccurate.
  2. Seems odd. by bluesoul88 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "A solar flare damaged the solar panels causing a reduction in power."

    Ah, powered by irony. Those Japanese are always on the cutting edge.

  3. My tax refund is no budgetary constraint by craXORjack · · Score: 3, Funny
    It's a pity that NASA's asteroid rover, which Hayabusa was going to drop off, got cancelled due to budgetry constraints...

    By cancelling all these pork barrel projects the administration was able to give you a tax refund. I enjoyed my three hundred dollars. It paid for the gas for my huge honkin' SUV for a whole month. It would have been two months except that Dick and George's arab friends raised their prices. But at least all those refunds went to a good cause. If the democrats were still running things a lot of our disposable income would be going to cocaine farmers in South America. But we can rest assured that when the robed men that George Bush holds hands with collect our extra cash that they will do something good with it. I'll bet they have lots of charitable causes that they donate to. Yup, I hear those Saudi's give to lots of worthy organizations... So the next time you complain about not adding some expensive, experimental gadget to some japanese rocket just think for a second about where that money would come from and have a little sympathy for those poor millionaires who would have to cut back on single malt scotch and exotic asian hookers. And for what? So some scientists can drive a remote control car around on an asteroid. We don't need Science to tell us about the universe. Everything you need to know is in the GoOD Book. Want to know how the universe was created? Pick up a Bible and read. It's right there in the first chapter.

    --
    Liberals call everyone Nazis yet they are the closest thing to it.
  4. Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I thought the GP's post was a brilliant troll, but then I read yours and saw how outclassed he really is.

    Who said NASA'a space shuttle was bad? It is revolutionary, just expensive as hell and slightly ahead of its time

    It's like watching Bobby Flay slice open a flounder. Elegant, deft, and just a little bit repulsive. Bravo!

  5. Sure they are... by Bob+Cat+-+NYMPHS · · Score: 3, Funny

    http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher1.html

    "So anyway, the whole "black men have big dicks" stereotype stretches far and wide, even to the nation's 12 year olds. Part of why I'm here is not just to kind of sort of help teach English, but to "broaden cultural perceptions". Break stereotypes, challenge preconcieved notions, all that jazz. That's good and all, but this is one stereotype I think I'm just gonna let slide.

    So anyway, I get asked "bigu dikku" A LOT. Every 2-3 days in fact, which is amazing considering I got asked this question about 2-3 times *in my entire life* in America. Locker room jokes aside. How do you answer that anyway? To a 12-15 year old? I wave them off and say "No no no." Then they say "Oh, sumaru dikku?" (trans. "Small dick?") and OF COURSE that's wrong so I have to correct them. It's just a no-win stiuation."

  6. stupid controller by austad · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually, the probe would have been there much much sooner, but someone accidentally entered "up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a, select, start" when they should have entered "up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a, start".

    It's a common mistake. It's too bad it had to happen on the controls to this thing though.

    NASA has, however, licensed the control technology used on this probe. Unfortunately, they are unsure as to whether or not their current shuttle control systems have enough power to be able to take commands from the unit. Fortunately, when the engineers do something wrong, they will have the assurance of being able to grab the cord 1 foot up from the controls and smack it repeatedly into a cement basement floor with no damage.

    --
    Need Free Juniper/NetScreen Support? JuniperForum
  7. Re:Typical Slashdot Paranoid Illiteracy by Bushcat · · Score: 5, Funny
    right now the only post at score +5

    But I think he went for the "+5, sympathy" vote. If you met a post like that in the street, you'd smile encouragingly and pat it on the head, inwardly glad that all your own posts had grown up healthy.

  8. This just in ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Communications from the Hayabusa probe suddenly and mysteriously fell silent after it returned this image http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Godz illa.jpg.

  9. motorbike by jlebrech · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's one fast motorbike and a hell of a ramp.

  10. Taking Pictures? by Wizzy+Wig · · Score: 4, Funny

    "The Japanese space probe Hayabusa has just arrived at its destination, the asteroid Itokawa, and is taking pictures." Will the Japanese tourist stereotypes never end?